Sushi-Ya Japan is a small restaurant serving up big taste in a prime location: downtown Milton. You'll find it just off of Main St., along Martin. You'll see men in suits, depending on the time of day, talking business over maki. Or there may be solo diners who need to get their sushi on, solo. Here you'll find a relaxed spot serving up rolls, teriyaki, noodle dishes, plus Korean specialties (and you may overhear them speaking Korean in the kitchen). Start with miso soup or salad (with miso dressing) and edamame, then fill yourself up on a salmon or tuna combination. It's equal parts simple and delicious. It's a perfect place to eat healthy and stay trendy. This is a classic hidden gem. You're welcome!

The menu is curated and the offerings are fabulous. This cute little downtown Oakville spot opened its doors in October 2016 and is an under-the-radar dining experience when it comes to great Sicilian fare. If you've never been, start with the fried artichokes (incredible!) and order the steak (equally fabulous but keep in mind it's not offered daily since the meat selection is changed up). We also dig the fabulously fabulous burrata-tomato salad! The resto is casual yet authentic, kid-friendly and - more importantly - offers a solid wine list, plus cocktails and beer. Service is very friendly. You must go.

Go for the wings … leave having sampled everything because the ravenous carnivore in you will surface and the meat is *that* damn fantastic. (Also, the Korean BBQ Nachos are amaaaaazing). Barque Smokehouse first opened in Toronto’s west-end Roncesvalles Village in 2011, heading further west to Burlington in summer 2017. Once you’re seated, you’re served popcorn and complimentary sparkling water. Don’t look at the menu. Just order the Wings with 299 dry rub. Jumbo smoked wings will arrive in a cast iron skillet and you will drool ... and need to place another order. Now, the popcorn. It’s amazing. You might sneeze or cough but you must keep snacking. (Turn the container upside down, RIGHT over your mouth, if no one is watching). The seats are so comfy, the vibe is fun and casual chic, and the meat speaks for itself. For the plant-based or vegetable lovers in your life, there are some options - namely sides. Barque serves locally grown ingredients when possible. The menu also offers Southern Fried Chicken, Baby Back Ribs, Pulled Pork, and Smoked Wings. Service is awesome.

Downtown Burlington's food scene just got a boost, Italian-style. The Express Italian Eatery has opened along Lakeshore Rd. at Brant St. and it's serving up pizza, pasta, steak and seafood. The new restaurant opened last month in the former Salvatore's spot. It’s from Hamilton — there’s a location by McMaster University and another on Grays Rd. closer to Stoney Creek. Burlington is the third location. The Express is named after the train in Italy which weaved through Bolzano, Milano, Florence, Bologna, Rome, Calabria and Sicily. The menu represents a fusion of northern, central and southern Italian cuisine. What’s in store? Made to order wood fire pizzas, fresh in- house pasta and hand tossed gourmet salads. You’ll really want to get the Ravioli al Brasato di Manzo. Why? Pillows are stuffed with braised beef then topped with sauteed red onions and mushrooms. It’s comfort food that’s flavoured impeccably (and reminds me of my university roommate Tania's pot roast … gone Italian). The Gnocchi, made in-house, arrives in a dreamy, creamy Rose sauce. It’s topped with fried sweet potato chips for a layer of texture. If you’re into sharing, you’ll want to order the Venetian pizza ($16). It’s got a thin crust plus asiago, soppressata, fresh rapini and pepperoncino, made in-house. It’s fantastic and perfectly crispy. Service is great, and here’s something special for the ladies: They give out blankets on the patio if you're cold (or inside when the A/C is blasting.

Sushi Masayuki is probably the best Japanese restaurant in the GTA and definitely comparable to the top spots in Toronto proper. It’s the best in Halton region by far. This is a real Japanese restaurant because, quite simply, it's owned and run by Japanese operators. Authenticity is key and the chefs at Masayuki have a plethora of experience with Japanese cuisine. Masayuki Takabe has more than 25 years under his belt as a sushi chef, working in popular high-end Japanese restaurants in Toronto and at Oakville’s Mye. Kitchen chef Takeshi Okada trained in Tokyo from the age of 15 and is among the top Japanese chefs in Canada who specialize in "kaiseki." The quality of the food here is unparalleled, so if you really want to impress, you’d better head to Sushi Masayuki. Just watch out because the sashimi bill will add up real quick, but you pay for quality. Make sure you book a reservation, as this place is rather quaint.

The 5 hottest restaurants in Halton for the week of June 30 to July 6 were based on the amount of organic page views and searches these restaurants received on inhalton.com